Hot-shooting Bedford added to Express arsenal
Louisiana native impressed team with three-pointers as an opponent last week
If you can't stop him, then sign him.
That's the decision the Windsor Express made with guard Jordan Bedford, who will make his debut with the club on Saturday against the Kokomo Bobkats. Game time at the WFCU Centre is 7 p.m.
A week ago, the 30-year-old Bedford put up a game-high 42 against the Express, which include a dozen three-point shots, while playing for the Dayton Flight in a 134-105 loss to Windsor.
“We didn't know this guy and he's firing threes from all over the court,” Express head coach Bill Jones said. “During the course of the game, our guys are looking at him and thinking, it would nice to add this guy to the team.”
Call it the first big benefit of the NBL of Canada's decision to have an interlocking schedule with teams from The Basketball League. After a conversation between management from the two teams, Bedford is now a member of the Express.
“From one league to another, it's a blessing,” Bedford said. “It's a surprising moment because I didn't think I was coming down for that. I just thought I was coming down to play with (Dayton) team. To get this opportunity is a blessing. I've never played or been in Canada.”
With Bedford being a threat from the outside, Jones is hoping it will open Windsor's inside game for two-time most valuable player Billy White and Malik Miller.
“He doesn't miss a shot,” Jones said of Bedford. “Billy White will be able to do things. They won't be able to double him or Malik Miller. They won't be able to sneak people down for a guy that's not a shooter.”
A Louisiana native, Bedford's basketball travels have taken him to Mexico, Cyprus, Mongolia, Turkey and Greece, and wherever he's been, he's been a shooter.
“I can shoot,” said the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Bedford, who can play either guard position. “That's my strong point. I can control the pace of the game and I can play point guard, but my resume is a shooter.”
While he was only in Dayton briefly, Bedford said he wasn't thrown off by the chance to join the Express.
“I talked to my family and the (Dayton) coaches and owner and they all showed me love,” Bedford said. “They gave me best wishes to come to Windsor.
“I know (moving around) is part of being a professional and how it goes. This is more exposure and a chance to play in another country. TBL is a great league, but what it's there for is to get looks like this to move on and better your career.”
With two years passing between seasons, Jones knows there will be tinkering this season to assemble a roster that he hopes can compete for a league title, and he believes Bedford is one of those needed additions.
“We needed a shooter and we've been scouring the wire,” Jones said. “He's a seasoned veteran and has played in Europe and can spell Lance (Tejada) and play on or off the ball.”
Until last week, Bedford had never been to Canada and he's anxious to get to know his new community, but his focus now is to settle in with the Express as quickly as possible.
“My main focus is to get comfortable and help the team and then I'll get more comfortable with the city,” Bedford said. “I just want to help the team and I'm ready.
“I've been a pro long enough. I just have to get used to the team and what it wants. As far as my game, it'll speak for itself. I don't want to step on any toes, I just want to help the team. As time goes by, I'll get more and more comfortable and be that person they signed and wanted.”